Spatial logic game

ABSTRACT

A game for a plurality of players is disclosed herein. The game may include a plurality of pieces for each player. The game may also include a polyhedron having a plurality of faces, wherein each face has a plurality of spaces for holding pieces. The game may further include a random number generator for indicating the number of spaces to move at least one of the pieces at each player&#39;s turn.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to copending application Ser. No.61/707,048, filed Sep. 28, 2012, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a spatial logic game, andmore specifically to a spatial logic game played on a three dimensionalpolyhedron.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are many games, puzzles and toys that require spatial-temporalreasoning. Aspects of these include visual, mental and actualmanipulation of shapes/objects that have at least rudimentary realisticspatial relations.

The most well-known example is the Rubik's Cube which is a 3-Dmechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Ernö Rubik. In a classic Rubik'sCube, each of the six faces is covered by nine stickers, each of one ofsix solid colours. A pivot mechanism enables each face to turnindependently, thus mixing up the colours. For the puzzle to be solved,each face must be returned to consisting of one colour.

Checkers is a two-player game, where one player is assigned whitecheckers and the other red. Each player has 12 checkers to start thegame. The object of the game is to capture the other player's checkersor make them impossible to move. The game is started on a checker boardconsisting of 64 squares in an 8×8 grid. The red player moves first.Then each player takes a single turn. A move consists of placing onechecker on a different square.

3D Checkers is a game that requires players to play across four checkerboards, stacked one on top of another. 3D Checkers relies on all theofficial rules for Checkers. This includes the rule that a player mustcapture, when able to do so, rather than make a non-capturing move. Theplayer(s) that have no pieces or cannot move loses. The only change tothe game of Checkers is the fact that there are three more boards added.

Backgammon is a board game for two players. The playing pieces are movedaccording to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of theirpieces from the board. With each roll of the dice, players must choosefrom numerous options for moving their checkers and anticipate possiblecounter-moves by the opponent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A game for a plurality of players is disclosed herein. Embodiments ofthe game may include a plurality of pieces for each player. Embodimentsof the game may also include a polyhedron having a plurality of faces,wherein each face has a plurality of spaces for holding pieces.Embodiments of the game may further include a random number generatorfor indicating the number of spaces to move at least one of the piecesat each player's turn.

Embodiments of the game may further include the feature wherein thespaces include a plurality of colors.

Embodiments of the game may further include the feature wherein thespaces includes attachment devices for holding the pieces thereon. Inthese embodiments, the attachment devices may include any suitable meansfor attaching the pieces, including among others magnets, hook andfabric, male and female interlocking mechanisms

Alternatively, pieces of the aforementioned embodiments may be replacedwith any other suitable indicia, e.g., lights or other markings.

Embodiments of the game may further include a means for allowing thepolyhedron to rotate, including, for example, a lazy susan onto whichthe polyhedron detachably mounts.

Embodiments of the game may further include a method of playing a game,wherein the game includes a playing polyhedron having multiple sides,wherein each side has positions for playing pieces allocated to aplurality of players and a random number generator for designating, inturn, the number of moves made by a player's pieces. The method mayinclude the steps of:

-   -   1. starting in an initial position where the polyhedron sits        upon one face and each one of each of the player's pieces sit        upon a different side face;    -   2. moving the playing pieces toward an identified area on the        top face in accordance with the number of moves designated by        the random number generator;    -   3. repositioning the polyhedron upon another face when a        player's piece reaches the identified area; and    -   4. removing all of the playing pieces on the another face when        the polyhedron is repositioned thereon, toward the ultimate goal        of removing all of the opponent's pieces after subsequent        repositionings.

The method may also include the feature wherein the identified area isidentified with a single playing piece.

The method may also include the feature wherein the single playing pieceis identified as a king piece.

The method may also include the feature wherein each player has fourplaying pieces and each of the pieces of each player is in an initialpredetermined starting position on each of the remaining facing sides.

The method may also include the feature wherein each side of thestructure has identified positions for the playing pieces.

The method may also include the feature wherein the identified positionsinclude attachment devices.

The method may also include the feature wherein the attachment devicesare selected from the group comprising magnets, mating elements, andhook and fabric elements.

The method may also include the feature wherein the players move theirpieces toward the king in any horizontal or vertical direction,including onto a different face of the structure.

Embodiments of the game may further include a random number generator, aplurality of pieces for each player of the game, and a playingpolyhedron having multiple sides, each of the sides having a pluralityof positions designated for the pieces. The method may include:

-   -   1. positioning each of the pieces of each player in an initial        predetermined starting position;    -   2. each player moving his pieces, in turn, the number of moves        allocated by the random number generator toward a predetermined        location which allows the player to reposition the polyhedron so        that it rests upon another side;    -   3. removing the pieces from the another side; and    -   4. repeating steps b and c until all of the opponents pieces        have been removed from the polyhedron.

The method may further include the feature wherein the predeterminedlocation is identified by a king piece.

The method may further include the feature wherein each player initiallyhas four playing pieces in a starting position of one piece on eachfacing side, the king upon the top side, and allowed movement includesmoving in any horizontal or vertical direction, including onto adifferent face of the polyhedron.

The method may further include the feature wherein each of the faces ofthe polyhedron have identified positions for the playing pieces and theking.

The method may further include the feature wherein the identifiedpositions include attachment devices.

Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent fromthe following description, the foregoing description of the inventiondescribing certain embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiment will now be described in more detail, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the six sides of the cube (polyhedron) structure used inthe game.

FIG. 2 shows all the game pieces.

FIG. 3 shows tray and lazy susan used to hold the cube structure.

FIG. 4 shows the game piece placement and movement on the cubestructure.

FIG. 5 shows the placement of coloured game pieces on the 4 sides.

FIG. 6 shows the placement of an alternative cube structure having holesin the sides for placement of the playing pieces, wherein the cubestructure is placed upon a lazy susan.

FIG. 7 shows the cube structure of FIG. 6, disassembled so that it maylie flat for storage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen in FIG. 1, there is a main polyhedron structure, which in thepreferred embodiment is made up of six faces (100, 101, 102, 103, 104,105). The polyhedron can be constructed in any type of material. Eachface is divided into, for example, 36 spaces. The spaces are preferablysquare and the number of spaces on each face is preferably the same, butit is possible to have different shaped spaces and/or a different numberof spaces on each face.

FIG. 2 shows the various game pieces involved in playing the game. Thereis a six-sided dice 200, which has the numbers 1, 2 and 3 (repeated) onthe sides. Any other techniques of generating a random number between 1and 3 could be used, for example picking a card or using an electronicrandom number generator. There are 16 playing pieces 201 having fourdifferent colors, for example Red (R), Yellow (Y), Green (G), Blue (B).However, any colors can be used. The pieces are constructed in such away to temporarily adhere to any sides of the polyhedron. For example,if the polyhedron is made of metal, then the bottom of the pieces can bemagnetic. If the polyhedron has a Velcro™ type cover, then the piecescan have the matching Velcro at the bottom. Any type of material ormechanism known in the art can be used as long as the piece adherestemporarily to the sides of the polyhedron.

The pieces need to be easily grabbed so they can be moved from square tosquare. Piece 201 is a possible profile for these pieces, but any shapeof pieces can be used. Different shapes of pieces could also be usedpossibly instead of different colors. There is optionally a “King” piece202 which can also be of a different shape and color and may not havethe same adherence as the other pieces.

FIG. 3 shows a tray 300 in which the polyhedron 106 optionally sits witha Lazy Susan 301 that attaches to it. Any mechanism that allows to turnthe polyhedron easily can be used as an optional add-on.

FIG. 4 shows the game at startup, where the polyhedron 106 is sitting inthe tray 300 which can rotate in both directions because of the lazysusan 301. All the playing pieces (201, 202, 203, 204) are arranged asfollows:

-   -   1. If a king piece 202 is used, it is placed on the top in the        middle of the top face 100.    -   2. On each of the other 4 faces that are showing (101, 103, 104,        105) the colored pieces are placed according to the following        rules:    -   3. Each colour has one piece on each side faces (101, 103, 104,        105). These can be marked on the board for easy setup as shown        in FIG. 4. The starting location of each piece is set as to give        equal chances to all players.    -   4. On the first face (101), place the red (R) piece in the top        left corner, one space in from the top and side.    -   5. On the same face (101), place the yellow (Y) piece three        spaces to the right of the red (R) piece 201.    -   6. On the same face (101), place the green (G) piece three        spaces below the yellow (Y) piece.    -   7. On the same face (101), place the blue (B) piece three spaces        to the left of the green (G) piece.    -   8. This needs to be done for each of the remaining faces (103,        104, 105), but the colors are rotated one spot clockwise for        each face.

FIG. 5 shows the placement for each side (101, 103, 104, 105) of thepolyhedron 106.

FIG. 6 shows the placement of an alternative cube structure having holesin the sides for placement of the playing pieces. The holes may matewith corresponding pins on the playing pieces. Further shown in FIG. 6is the cube structure placed upon a lazy susan so that the players mayeasily rotate the cube structure to plan their playing strategy.

FIG. 7 shows the cube structure of FIG. 6 disassembled so that it maylie flat for storage. In this way, the polyhedron of the game may notnecessarily be supplied for the game as a solid structure. Rather, itmay be supplied as a flat piece that can be reshaped to form thepolyhedron of the game for playing and folded flat for storage.

Any starting locations that provide fair chances to each player can alsobe used.

The game pieces are allowed to move left, right, up and down by up to 3spaces, depending on the roll of the dice 200. The piece is allowed togo over the line segment between its current space and another adjacentspace.

One embodiment of the game is for four players, each choosing a color orshape, and the object of the game is to remove all the other player'spieces first, and have at least one our piece left on the board. On alarger size or differently shaped polyhedron, additional players can beadded using additional colors or shapes.

The game is played as follows:

-   -   1. The first player (which can be determined by many different        means, including highest roll of the die 200, subsequent players        following in a clockwise order), rolls the die 200, which        determines how many spaces to move. The piece can be moved        according to any allowed movements, for example the piece 201        can be moved over the line segments of a face or over the edges        of the polyhedron in any horizontal or vertical direction,        including onto a different face of the polyhedron 106. No        diagonal moves are allowed.    -   2. The move may be split between multiple pieces of the same        player but the total number of moves must equal the number        rolled on the die or dice.    -   3. Each player takes a turn to make their move(s).    -   4. If a piece lands on any of the four spaces 405 surrounding        the King 202, then the polyhedron 106 must be flipped. If no        king is used then specific spaces on each sides can be marked to        identify when the polyhedron must be flipped. To flip the        polyhedron 106, pick it up out of the tray 300, choose a side        (101, 103, 104, 105) to put on the bottom, remove all the pieces        from that side and place at the bottom of the tray 300 or on a        surface if no tray is used.    -   5. The king 202, if used, then gets replaced to its initial        position on top.    -   6. Each player can flip the polyhedron only once per turn. The        flip must be done at the end of the turn after all the moves on        the die have been used up.

The game may be modified to use any type of polyhedron instead of thecube shown in the preferred embodiment (for example an octahedron with32 triangles as spaces on each side for 6 players). The random numbersgenerated by the die or dice, the cards, or the electronic device canset be within any range of numbers.

Further, both platonic three-dimensional shapes and irregularpolyhedrons may be used as the polyhedron disclosed herein. Such formsmay or may not have opposing faces or top faces. In such cases, theobject of the game is still the same; that is, moving the playing piecestoward an identified goal for allowing the polyhedron to be repositionedupon a different face and removing the playing pieces from thatdifferent face.

Although the particular embodiments shown and described above will proveto be useful in many applications in the rotational arts to which thepresent invention pertains, further modifications of the presentinvention will occur to persons skilled in the art. All suchmodifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A game for a plurality of players, wherein eachplayer has a plurality of pieces, comprising: a) a polyhedron having aplurality of faces, wherein each face has a plurality of spaces forholding pieces; and b) a random number generator for indicating thenumber of spaces to move at least one of the pieces at each player'sturn.
 2. The game of claim 1, wherein the spaces include a plurality ofcolors.
 3. The game of claim 1, wherein the spaces includes attachmentdevices for holding the pieces thereon.
 4. The game of claim 3, whereinthe attachment devices include magnets.
 5. The game of claim 3, whereinthe attachment devices include hook and fabric.
 6. The game of claim 3,wherein the attachment devices include a male and female interlockingmechanism.
 7. The game of claim 3, wherein the game further comprises alazy susan onto which the polyhedron detachably mounts.
 8. A method ofplaying a game, wherein the game comprises: a) a playing polyhedronhaving multiple sides, wherein each side has positions for playingpieces allocated to a plurality of players; and b) a random numbergenerator for designating, in turn, the number of moves made by aplayer's pieces, the method comprising the steps of: a) starting in aninitial position where the polyhedron sits upon one face and each one ofeach of the player's pieces sit upon a different side face; b) movingthe playing pieces toward an identified area on the top face inaccordance with the number of moves designated by the random numbergenerator; c) repositioning the polyhedron upon another face when aplayer's piece reaches the identified area; and d) removing all of theplaying pieces on the another face when the polyhedron is repositionedthereon, toward the ultimate goal of removing all of the opponent'spieces after subsequent repositionings.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the identified area is identified with a single playing piece.10. The method of claim 9, wherein the single playing piece isidentified as a king piece.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein eachplayer has four playing pieces and each of the pieces of each player isin an initial predetermined starting position on each of the remainingfacing sides.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein each side of thestructure has identified positions for the playing pieces.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the identified positions include attachmentdevices.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the attachment devices areselected from the group comprising magnets, mating elements, and hookand fabric elements.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the playersmove their pieces toward the king in any horizontal or verticaldirection, including onto a different face of the structure.
 16. Amethod of playing a game, wherein the game has a random numbergenerator, a plurality of pieces for each player of the game, and aplaying polyhedron having multiple sides, each of the sides having aplurality of positions designated for the pieces, the method comprising:a) positioning each of the pieces of each player in an initialpredetermined starting position; b) each player moving his pieces, inturn, the number of moves allocated by the random number generatortoward a predetermined location which allows the player to repositionthe polyhedron so that it rests upon another side; c) removing thepieces from the another side; and d) repeating steps b and c until allof the opponents pieces have been removed from the polyhedron.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the predetermined location is identified bya king piece.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein each player initiallyhas four playing pieces in a starting position of one piece on eachfacing side, the king upon the top side, and allowed movement includesmoving in any horizontal or vertical direction, including onto adifferent face of the polyhedron.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereineach of the faces of the polyhedron have identified positions for theplaying pieces and the king.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein theidentified positions include attachment devices.